Dartford

Dartford's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and ethnicity.

The population passed 97,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Dartford increased by 13%, from just over 85,900 to 97,400.

The addition of about 11,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Dartford was home to, on average, 9.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Dartford

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Dartford increased by one year, from 36 to 37 years.

This suburban area had a lower average age than the South East and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 3,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 600.

About 15% of people in Dartford are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Dartford by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Dartford

The number of people in Dartford that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 13,000 in 2001 to just over 26,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 27% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Dartford that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 63,000 in 2001 to about 59,000 in 2011 (from 73% to 61%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just under 7,400 to about 6,400 (from 8.6% to 6.6%).

About 1,600 people (0.7%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 600 in 2001 (1.6%).

The population without a religion in Dartford increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Dartford by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Dartford

The percentage of Dartford residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.5% to 6.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.6%, while the percentage of Dartford residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Dartford at a faster rate than in Havering (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Dartford).

In Dartford, the proportion of private renting increased from 8.0% in 2001 to 16% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Havering increased from 5.5% to 11%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Dartford fell from 16% to 15%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 74% to 67%.

Private renting in Dartford increased by 7.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Dartford, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Dartford

The number of people in Dartford from the White ethnic groups decreased from about 81,000 in 2001 to about 85,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 95% to 87%.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Dartford from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 2,700 in 2001 to about 5,800 in 2011 (from 3.2% to 6.0%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just under 760 to just under 3,600 (from 0.9% to 3.7%).

About 2,200 people (1.2%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just over 1,000 in 2001 (2.2%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Dartford decreased by 7.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Dartford by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links